If this is inappropriate for the Classic and Vintage Forum, please excuse.

For some time now I have thought about organizing a vintage bicycle ride, or rides to be more exact, in Thunder Bay and surrounding area. The secondary highways here are little traveled and cut through some of the most beautiful scenery offered by the Great Canadian Shield. View gigantic rock outcroppings, high and spectacular water falls and unique ecosystems that dot the map. Special events could include an opportunity to mine your own amethyst gemstones or go swimming in one of the thousands of lakes that clutter the countryside.

The event would span five days and include several guided rides, a couple of unplanned days, and specialty events such as Pickerel fishing, wind surfing, or a tour of the harbor and its feeding river.

If I could get a group of riders interested, I could arrange for accommodations, a courtesy ride vehicle, riding guide and even a fishing trip or two for those interested. The agenda is open to suggestion.

If there is any interest in this endeavor, it would be executed to support our local Bicycles for Humanity purse. I would not make any money off of this. You, on the other hand, would have access to a fairly inexpensive riding holiday that might prove to be a lot of fun. I might even offer a tour of The Old Shed, and The Old Cottage, and The Old Paid For Storage Room. You might even go home with another vintage road bicycle, or roadster, or even an old balloon tired bicycle. There are lots to choose from here in Thunder Bay. I might even help you go Yard Sailing in the vintage bicycle burial ground called Thunder Bay.

Thunder Bay, incidentally, is located in Canada about 180 miles north of Duluth, Minnesota. The drive from Duluth is absolutely gorgeous, hugging the coast line of Lake Superior much of the way.

So, anyone think this would be a good idea? I could probably set up for between ten and twenty people. Activities could be planned for non-riding partners in case you wanted to bring your better halves.

I can even offer some of you a vintage road bicycle from my own stable of worthy steeds. Anyway, this is just a thought that I thought might prove to be a lot of fun and helpful also to a worthwhile cause.

Again, if this is inappropriate, please forgive me but I though that we could at least explore the idea.

Wow. This sounds like a great ride! That area is one of my absolute favorite parts of the world (my grandparents lived in Thunder Bay -- or "Fort William" as it was known then) and I have spent plenty of time up there.

Glad to see that there is a bit of interest. If we can get ten or more people to commit to seriously considering the idea, I will go to work with the B4H volunteers and see what can be set up for the last week in July or the first week in August. This is prime Thunder Bay time in the summer. I will than report back to others with costs and a more filled out plan.

And to the person who sent some pictures of where I do my riding. Thanks so much. The pictures, however, do little to truly share the incredible beauty of the countryside around Thunder Bay. Wait until you ride by a patch of Golden Rod - kinda smells like Jasmine - lovely. And don't worry about the bears - they are not nearly all that hungry in the middle of the summer and you will rarely bump(literally) into one during the warmer months.

For those who are truly interested in the ride, let me know via private email rather than bore everyone else. It this thing starts to get off the ground, I will bump this thread from time to time so that others can get an idea of what is going on.